UCMJ DEFENSE - COURT-MARTIAL TRIAL LAWYERS
Experienced Court-Martial Lawyers
- Former Navy and Marine Corps JAGs who have tried hundreds of criminal and administrative cases.
- Lawyers who have been certified by the Judge Advocate General as Specialists and Experts in UCMJ trials.
- 70+ years combined court-martial experience.
- Advanced training in defending drug crimes, sex crimes, and computer crimes.
How do I know if I am going to court-martial?
The court-martial process normally begins with a military criminal investigation (NCIS, CID, OSI, CGIS) or a transfer of an investigation from civilian authorities (FBI, local or state law enforcement). The next step is for the charges to be “preferred”, that is be sworn out by an “accuser” who certifies that there is evidence supporting the UCMJ offenses charges. Once charges are “preferred”, they are then served on the military member, normally by hand-delivery of the “charge sheet” to the member. So the first indication that a military member may be going to court-martial is when he or she is called in to be interrogated (Remain Silent!!!), but court-martial is only certain once that charge sheet is served on the military member.
Why hire a civilian defense attorney for a court-martial?
Attorney Patrick Korody and his team have handled hundreds of court-martials and the team has over 70+ years UMCJ military law experience. Most assigned JAGs have less than 3 years UCMJ military law experience. He also has taken cases to trial in state and federal court.
What types of cases do you handle?
We represent clients facing summary court-martial, special court-martial, and general court-martial. We represent clients at UCMJ Article 32 Preliminary Hearings. We have experience with all UCMJ offenses and advanced training to defend computer crimes, drug crimes, and sex crimes.
Do I get a free lawyer from the military?
Yes, but only once the charge sheet is served. Also, you don’t get to pick your detailed military lawyer – it is chosen by the military. You may get a good military lawyer. You may get a bad military lawyer. You may get an inexperienced military lawyer. You may get a military lawyer is worried about his or her next assignment. You may ask for another military lawyer but that must be approved by military leaders. You do get to choose a civilian military defense lawyer if you hire that lawyer. When you hire Korody Law, we work side-by-side with detailed military defense lawyers, establishing a team to defend you at your court-martial. Hiring Korody Law means you have a very experienced and talented team of lawyers leading your defense team both during trial preparation and at the court-martial trial. We won’t let a bad or disinterested military lawyer impact your defense.
Can I hire you to appeal my court-martial conviction?
Special Court-Martial and General Court-Martial convictions are considered a federal conviction. The UCMJ is actually federal law – it is part of the United States Code just like federal criminal statutes that apply to every person in the United States. An accused (defendant) at court-martial, depending on the specific UCMJ charges, can be sentenced to years in the brig, reduction in paygrade, forfeiture of pay, and punitive discharge (bad conduct discharge or dishonorable discharge). Some of these punishments are mandatory. Others, such as a range of imprisonment are recommended depending on the severity of the offense. So yes you can hire us to do your appeal, but winning at trial or getting a reduced charged is a superior outcome. The reality is that most appeals fail. So hire Korody Law to fight your court-martial.
Case Consultation
Let Korody Law provide you a case consultation.
If you are under investigation or have received UCMJ charges, call Korody Law for a free consultation.
Types of Courts-Martial
General Court-Martial
A felony level court. Sentence is normally the maximum for the offense. Can award a dishonorable discharge. Must waive or have an Article 32 Preliminary Hearing prior to referral. Most GCM cases are now prosecuted and referred for trial by the Office of Special Trial Counsel.
Special Court-Martial
A misdemeanor level court. Confinement sentence for all offenses cannot exceed 12 months. If not a “military judge alone” special court-martial, can award a bad conduct discharge.
Summary Court-Martial
Does not result in a conviction. Possible punishment depends on rank. No right to a jury. Officer hearing case is not a judge. As of 2024, right to defense counsel. Member can refuse.
Article 32 Preliminary Hearing
An Article 32 Preliminary Hearing is a court-martial procedural hearing to determine whether probable cause exists that the charged offenses were committed by the accused; whether military jurisdiction over the accused and the offenses exists; and to make a recommendation as to disposition, i.e. should the case proceed to a general court-martial.
The hearing is presided over by an officer, normally a JAG, who will make a written report with the above findings and recommendations. The accused is entitled to be present at the Article 32 Preliminary Hearing. An accused can be made present by VTC, Zoom, or other technology. The prosecutor (government counsel) will present the evidence to establish the accused committed the offenses and jurisdiction, normally by submitting investigative reports. An accused is entitled to be represented by counsel who can present a case that the accused did not commit the offenses or that the appropriate forum is not to refer the charges to general court-martial.
Our Battleground
Mr. Korody has litigated cases at various reserve centers throughout the United States and the following military installations:
- 138th Fight Wing, Tulsa, OK
- Ellsworth Air Force Base, ND
- Naval Submarine Base New London, CT
- Naval Station Newport, RI
- Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, PA
- Naval Weapons Station Earle, NJ
- Naval Station Norfolk, VA
- Naval Air Station Oceana, VA
- Washington Navy Yard, DC
- United States Naval Academy, MD
- Fort Bragg, NC
- Camp Lejeune, NC
- Naval Station Mayport, FL
- Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL
- Kings Bay Submarine Base, GA
- Naval Air Station Key West, FL
- SouthCom, Miami, FL
- Naval Support Activity Panama City, FL
- Naval Hospital Pensacola, FL
- Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL
- Center for Information Dominance, Corry Station, FL
- Naval Air Station Whiting Field, FL
- Eglin Air Force Base, FL
- Hurlburt Field, FL
- Fort Polk, LA
- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), AK
- Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, MS
- Stennis Space Center, MS
- Naval Support Activity New Orleans, LA
- Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, LA
- Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, LA
- Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, AL
- Coast Guard Atlantic Area, Norfolk, VA
- Coast Guard 8thDistrict, New Orleans, LA
- Tinker Air Force Base, OK
- Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, TX
- Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, TX
- Lackland Air Force Base, TX
- Fort Sam Houston, TX
- Naval Base San Diego, CA
- Naval Air Station North Island, CA
- Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Bangor, WA
- Naval Hospital Bremerton, WA
- Naval Station Everett, WA
- Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA
- Baghdad, Iraq
Mr. Korody and his team are available to represent members of the military throughout the United States and worldwide.
Mr. Korody and his team represent clients at Article 32, UCMJ Preliminary Hearings, Special Courts-Martial, and General Courts-Martial for all offenses under the UCMJ, including:
- Sexual assault and other sex offenses
- Drug use (urinalysis), possession, introduction, and distribution
- Domestic violence
- Receipt, possession, distribution of child pornography
- Theft and fraud, including basic allowance for housing (BAH) fraud
- Unauthorized absence (UA, AWOL) / Desertion
- Homicide
- Arson
- Loss of sensitive/classified information
- Sexual harassment
- DUI/DWI
Can you afford not to hire Korody Law as your court-martial defense team?
Who you choose as your court-martial attorneys may be one of the most important decisions in your life. Your court-martial attorneys will guide you through the entire court-martial process – investigating and challenging the government’s case; reviewing and evaluating any plea offers; prepare for trial including obtaining expert witnesses and favorable evidence; and trying your case before a court-martial panel. Korody Law takes every case seriously because every case is a client’s future, a client’s career, and a client’s freedom. Korody Law’s court-martial defense team will start defending you the day we are retained and we will not stop fighting.